Assessing Various Technologies to Remediate a Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifer

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Releases of nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) to groundwater systems are a serious and widespread problem throughout the United States. Research was conducted to determine if numerical groundwater flow and transport models could evaluate the effectiveness of alternative remedial strategies to reduce dissolved hydrocarbon contamination in aquifers, and therefore serve as tools to aid environmental managers in the remedial decision making process. A fuel distribution terminal in the Eastern United States was selected as the test site. A release of diesel and jet fuels from the terminal loading rack area contaminated the unconfined aquifer beneath the terminal and migrated off-site, impacting commercial and residential areas. In the analyses, groundwater flow and transport models were calibrated to site data. The calibrated models were applied to simulate four remedial options: (1) natural attenuation, (2) groundwater extraction, (3) groundwater flushing, and (4) microbial fences. Results of the predictive simulations indicated that the groundwater flushing remedial option provided the greatest reduction of benzene and TEX mass from the NAPL source as well as the lowest concentrations of benzene and TEX in the aquifer. The calibrated numerical models were able to predict the effectiveness of various remedial options and provide a basis for comparison. The modeling in conjunction with other factors, such as cost, were utilized to facilitate the decision making process.